NEW DELHI: BJP's J&K state secretary Anil Parihar used to be perhaps killed in Kishtwar as a part of a 'determined' attempt through Kashmiri terrorists, suspected to be from Hizbul Mujahideen, to unharness an impactful attack in the differently calm district after having did not strike in the valley due to the tight security arrangements for panchayat polls, consistent with assets in the security established order.
Intelligence officers said whilst the assailants of Parihar and his brother were still being recognized and traced, the modus operandi and guns used in the attack level to the involvement of native terrorists, who were perhaps assisted and facilitated through overground staff.
"Preliminary inquiry suggests that 6-7 Hizbul terrorists had been camping in Kishtwar for past few days. It is a matter of investigation whether they were in Kishtwar to escape the pressure they may be facing in Kashmir due to higher surveillance and deployment of security forces there, or if they had come on a specific mission to kill Parihar. While we are adequately convinced that it was a terror attack and not borne out of any personal vendetta, we are still trying to establish the motive that could be anything from targeting a senior BJP leader to an attempt to divert focus of security forces from Kashmir region to creating a fear psychosis ahead of panchayat polls in J&K," said an officer.
The officer hinted at the possibility of Hizbul Mujahideen, facing pressure from its Pakistan-based masters to unharness a large attack to upset panchayat polls in Kashmir, choosing goals in spaces like 'Kishtwar' that don't seem to be the primary focus of security forces deployed in the state.
Intelligence officers said whilst the assailants of Parihar and his brother were still being recognized and traced, the modus operandi and guns used in the attack level to the involvement of native terrorists, who were perhaps assisted and facilitated through overground staff.
"Preliminary inquiry suggests that 6-7 Hizbul terrorists had been camping in Kishtwar for past few days. It is a matter of investigation whether they were in Kishtwar to escape the pressure they may be facing in Kashmir due to higher surveillance and deployment of security forces there, or if they had come on a specific mission to kill Parihar. While we are adequately convinced that it was a terror attack and not borne out of any personal vendetta, we are still trying to establish the motive that could be anything from targeting a senior BJP leader to an attempt to divert focus of security forces from Kashmir region to creating a fear psychosis ahead of panchayat polls in J&K," said an officer.
The officer hinted at the possibility of Hizbul Mujahideen, facing pressure from its Pakistan-based masters to unharness a large attack to upset panchayat polls in Kashmir, choosing goals in spaces like 'Kishtwar' that don't seem to be the primary focus of security forces deployed in the state.
Intel: Team of 6-7 Hizbul men behind Kishtwar killings
![Intel: Team of 6-7 Hizbul men behind Kishtwar killings]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
November 03, 2018
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